My interest in theology and ethics is driven by the deep belief that how we picture ourselves, the world, and God provide the possibilities for moral action. To borrow a phrase from the philosopher Pierre Hadot, I view theology as â€œa way of life.â€ Theological reflection informs how we live and respond to God and to others. The two books that have most deeply influenced my views are The Responsible Self by H. Richard Niebuhr and The Sovereignty of Good by Iris Murdoch. Both of these writers capture the complexity of the moral life as it relates to a transcendent good. Murdoch insists that we must pay attention to the world around us if we want to see and do the good. If we do not see people clearly, we treat them as objects. Niebuhr brings faith into this pictureâ€”we must see and respond to others in light of a deep trust in the faithfulness of God. Otherwise, we respond defensively and cannot envision Godâ€™s intention for ourselves and others. Hence the moral life is first about seeing, and then about doing.